Thunder Announce Five to 2014-15 Roster
September 13, 2014 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
Wichita, KS (Sept. 13th) - The Wichita Thunder of the Central Hockey League, powered by Toyota, announced today at their second-straight Open House event the signing of five players to the team's roster for the 2014-15 season. Returning to the Air Capital are forwards RG Flath, Matt Summers, Jon Booras and Erick Lizon. The team also announced the addition of defenseman Michael Trebish.
Flath, 29, returns for his fourth season in Wichita and his eighth as a pro. A native of Park City, Utah, the 5-foot-11, 190-pound forward has appeared in 170 games in Thunder blue. He ranks 10th on the all-time leaderboard for goals scored in a Thunder uniform (73) and third in all-time plus/minus (+48). Flath was a finalist this past season for CHL Man of the Year and also won the Thunder's Community Service Award for the second year in a row. Last season, he tallied 44 points (23g, 21a) in 64 games. He has amassed 267 points (129g, 138a) in 391 games in the CHL, having spent previous seasons with Oklahoma City, Austin, Rapid City, Corpus Christi and Mississippi. Flath has recorded 40 points in each of the last three seasons including his time overseas with Hvidovre (Denmark) and the Sheffield Steelers of the EIHL in 2011-12. He returned state-side and played 42 games in Wichita, helping the Thunder reach the Finals for the first time in 14 seasons.
Summers, 28, also returns for his fourth season in Wichita and his eighth as a pro. The Savage, Minnesota native ranks 10th on the all-time scoring list for points in a Thunder uniform (175), seventh in game-winners (14), fifth in plus/minus (+41) and fifth in shootout goals (12-for-27). Summers has played his whole career in the CHL since turning pro in 2007-08 with the Laredo Bucks and also spent three seasons in Mississippi. In 411 career games, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound forward has racked up 353 points (123g, 230a). He has recorded 40 points in each of the last four seasons including a career-best 66 points (17g, 49a) in 2012-13.
Booras, 31, enters his ninth season as a pro and his second in Wichita. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound forward led the Thunder in scoring with 64 points (17g, 47a) in 61 games. After breaking into the pro ranks with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the UHL, the Billings, Montana native spent the next seven seasons in Bloomington as a member of the PrairieThunder from 2006-11 and with the Blaze from 2011-13. Booras finished second in the CHL scoring race during the 2012-13 campaign, netting 86 points (32g, 54a) and finished tied for first in power play goals (13) and third in power play assists (19). His best pro season came in 2008-09 when he hit the century mark (40g, 60a). Booras also made brief stints with the Iowa Stars and the Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey League. One of the biggest influences in his playing career is his uncle, Andy Moog, who played 18 years in the NHL. Moog spent parts of two seasons with the Wichita Wind from 1980-82.
Lizon, 28, returns for his fourth year in a Thunder uniform and his ninth as a pro. A native of Kitchener, Ontario, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound forward started last season in the AHL with Oklahoma City. He appeared in 12 games for the Barons before returning to Wichita on November 27th. Lizon finished the season with 11 points (5g, 6a) and 122 penalty minutes and took second in the annual Best-of-the-Best Poll for Best Fighter in the Heavyweight Division. In 421 career games, Lizon has amassed 1,166 penalty minutes to go along with 63 points (26g, 37). He began his pro career with the Rockford IceHogs of the UHL before heading to the Oklahoma City Blazers. Lizon was selected to the 2010-11 ECHL All-Star Game while playing for the Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL, where he spent two seasons.
Trebish, 25, comes to Wichita after splitting last season between the Denver Cutthroats and the Arizona Sundogs. A native of Yorkton, Saskatchewan, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound defenseman played his college hockey at Ferris State University, where he was a teammate of Thunder netminder Taylor Nelson. Trebish was a member of the 2011-12 squad that won the NCAA (CCHA) regular season championship and made it all the way to the Frozen Four. After his four-year college career, he spent his rookie season with the Bloomington Blaze in 2012-13 as a teammate of Jon Booras. Trebish was dealt to Denver and played in 19 games for the Cutthroats. During his first two years as a pro, he has appeared in 123 games, recording 23 assists and 184 penalty minutes.
Training camps will open for each team on Monday, October 13th. Wichita will open the regular season at home on Saturday, October 25th against the Allen Americans at 7:05 p.m.
Individual tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, September 26th. Don't delay! Contact the Wichita Thunder Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at (316) 264-4625. Stay up-to-date on all the news this off-season by visiting www.wichitathunder.com .
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Central Hockey League Stories from September 13, 2014
- Thunder Announce Five to 2014-15 Roster - Wichita Thunder
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